Commenting on the government's Vision for Adult Social Care, published today, Richard Humphries, senior fellow at The King's Fund, said:

'The government's vision for social care sets out a positive and bold framework for the reform of social care. The commitment to extend personal budgets, a proven innovation, should inject new urgency into giving people greater choice and control.

'The focus on the needs of carers is especially welcome given the dependence of the current system on their efforts.

'It makes sense to align the work of the Dilnot Commission on funding with the review of adult social care law into a comprehensive programme of reform backed by legislation.

'The immediate challenge for councils and their NHS partners will be to maintain vital care and support provision by ensuring that the resources identified in the Comprehensive Spending Review get through to front line services.

'It's vital that the government acts decisively on the Dilnot Commission's recommendations to avoid delays that have thwarted previous attempts to reform social care funding.'

Notes

The Commission for the Funding of Care and Support, chaired by Andrew Dilnot, is an independent body responsible for the review of the funding system for care and support in England. Launched on 20 July 2010, the Commission will examine and provide recommendations on social care reform and will report in July 2011.

Source:
The King's Fund